Software Migration from Win10 Problem
 

Before migrating from Win10, I was running a proprietary program that says it's available in all 3 formats: Win, Mac and Linux. The Linux version is stated to be 32bit for Ubuntu. The file has a .deb extension.

I downloaded it anyway to my 64bit Mint (with Cinnamon 3.0) system and tried to install. Installer returns a message Error: Dependency is not satisfiable:libportaudio0.

It seems to me in my very limited understanding that 32bit should run on 64bit (but not vice versa) and that a Ubuntu .deb should run on Mint, since Mint is based on Ubuntu and they're both derived from Debian.

Any clues as to what the problem might be? Thank you.

You can easily run a complete 32-bit system on a 64-bit machine. Running 32-bit programs in a 64-bit system is more complicated. You need to have the correct 32-bit libraries as well, and a kernel that is able to launch 32-bit programs. This is often referred to as multilib capacity. It used to be common during the transition period between 32- and 64-bit but I think it is rarer now.

There might also be compatibility problems between your Mint installation and the version of Ubuntu that the package was compiled for. Generally speaking it is not a good idea to mix Debian, Ubuntu and/or Mint packages even though they use the same packaging system.

Probably you are trying to install an outdated package for an older release.

"libportaudio0" was a package for Ubuntu 14.04 or Mint 17.x.

In Ubuntu 16.04 and Mint 18.x, the package is now called "libportaudio2".

So your options as I see them are either, 1) find a version of the "proprietary program" that is up-to-date for 2016; or 2) use an older version of Mint or Ubuntu.

It's quite possible that the older software may run with the newer version of the library. Find where libportaudio2 lives with your search tool. Open a terminal window and use
sudo -s [full address of libportaudio2] [full address of libportaudio0]
The full address will be something like /lib/libportaudio0.so (wild guess here!)

Alternatively, install libportaudio0
https://packages.debian.org/wheezy/libportaudio0

Hi...

In case it helps, Ubuntu's 64 or 32 bit version of the needed dependency can be found here. :)

Regards...

Excuse My Naivte
 

@David McCann: Pleas excuse my total naivte. I apologize. I am learning as fast as I can so as not to be a burden and a pain on this forum.

When I click the link you provided and get to the lib file at Debian, it gives me two choices: open the file with GDeb Package Installer or save the file. Which? When? Should I select open with GDeb independently or when I'm already using GDeb to open the main program?

I hope that this is understandable. I apologize if not.

Hi...

It might be better to save the file. Most likely it will go to the "Downloads" folder. Then you can navigate there and double click on the file to install the dependency. :)

Regards...

I found libportaudio0 at the Debian site and downloaded it. Double clicked the file in the Downloads folder and received message Successfully Installed.

Then double clicked on proprietary app folder that I had previously downloaded and the installer still reports the same Error: Dependency not satisfiable: libportaudio0.

What am I missing or doing wrong? Please and thank you.

Which version (architecture) did you download and install? If you installed the 64 bit version, it may not work for the 32 bit program. :(

Regards...

Initially I downloaded and installed the 64 bit version but after reading your post I also downloaded and installed i386 version. Now when I try to install the program, I get a different error message: dependency unsatisfiable: libssl0.9.8

This is starting to sound like a case of "you can't get there from here".

Hi...

You may be entering what has been infamously referred to as "dependency hell," although it in no way compares to the real hell, (see my second signature link below for more information about that.) This is where dependencies require dependencies and can go on for quite some time, sometimes reaching dead ends or breaking other packages. If you want to keep going, try installing the package from here and see if that helps. :)

Regards...

Solved
 

Ardvar71, you're a genius! I installed the ubuntu file you linked me to and the file is now installed and running fine, except for one small glitch. It's a guitar music tablature program (Guitar Pro 6) and once I enter some notes or chords either on the music staff or in tab form, it can give a simple audio playback with various simulated instruments. I'm not getting the audio playback but I think I know why.

When the program installed and opened up, it asked for my Product User ID and Key ID, which I provided. Then it asked for my password, which I entered correctly but it wouldn't accept. I suspect that's because the product was previously originally registered as a Win10 version with password and it doesn't like me now trying to re-register as a Linux user with the same password, so it won't let me connect to and activate the sound bank. I will have to sort that out with the program owner.

Thanks to everyone who contributed suggestions and advice, and helped out. I'm very grateful.

Help! Spoke Too Soon
 

When I powered off last evening, all was working fine after the downloads and instalation. No issues.

This morning the system won't boot. I get the Asus flash screen followed by the Mint logo flash screen saying that a system check is in progress "Press Ctrl+C to continue". Whether I do so or not, the system stalls there and won't go any further.

Any clues or suggestions? Thank you.

Great! Now that you've shared with us that the name of the program is Guitar Pro 6, we can begin to give you meaningful assistance/advice.

When I googled "install guitar pro 6 in ubuntu 16.04" this was one of the top hits. I can't personally vouch for these instructions, but it looks promising: https://www.reddit.com/r/GuitarPro/c...untu_1604_and/

I strongly advise NOT to install Debian packages in Ubuntu/Mint.

System check in progress means that it's checking your filing system: a bad shutdown may be the most likely reason. It's not hanging, just very busy, and you need to leave it to finish.